Packaged terminal air conditioner unit

Abstract

A packaged terminal air conditioner unit includes a phase separator positioned within a casing of the packaged terminal air conditioner unit. The phase separator is coupled to a supply conduit that extends between an exterior coil and an interior coil of the packaged terminal air conditioner unit. The phase separator is configured for separating liquid refrigerant within the supply conduit from vapor refrigerant within the supply conduit.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present subject matter relates generally to packaged terminal air conditioner units.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Certain heat pump systems include a sealed system for chilling and / or heating air with refrigerant. The sealed systems generally include a throttling device for restricting a flow of refrigerant between an outdoor heat exchanger or coil and an indoor heat exchanger or coil of the sealed system. Various throttling devices are available, including capillary tubes, J-T valves, electronic expansion valves, etc. Within the throttling device, at least a portion of the refrigerant within the flow of refrigerant may vaporize.[0003]Packaged terminal air conditioner units generally include a casing and a sealed system. Due to space constraints within the casing, selection of sealed system components for packaged terminal air conditioner units can be limited. For example, relatively small heat exchangers are generally used in packaged terminal air...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a packaged terminal air conditioner unit that includes a phase separator positioned within a casing of the unit. The phase separator is coupled to a supply conduit that extends between an interior coil and an exterior coil. The phase separator is configured for separating liquid refrigerant within the supply conduit from vapor refrigerant within the supply conduit. The supply conduit directs the liquid refrigerant from the phase separator to the interior coil. The technical effect of this invention is to improve the efficiency and performance of the packaged terminal air conditioner unit by separating the liquid refrigerant from the vapor refrigerant and directing it to the interior coil, which results in better heat exchange and reduced energy consumption.

Problems solved by technology

Due to space constraints within the casing, selection of sealed system components for packaged terminal air conditioner units can be limited.

For example, relatively small heat exchangers are generally used in packaged terminal air conditioner units due to space constraints within the casing.

Utilizing small heat exchangers can result in a large pressure drop across the low pressure side heat exchanger and thereby negatively affect an efficiency of the packaged terminal air conditioner unit.

However, such small heat exchangers reduce refrigerant velocity through the small heat exchangers and the refrigerant side heat transfer coefficient.

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